05 September 2011 | Author: R Wood Media Intern

Galaxy Tab disappears from orbit at IFA trade show

Samsung has removed its Galaxy Tab from Europe's biggest electronic fair, held in Berlin - the IFA electronics show.

The tablet had been slated to make an appearance at the conference but was removed abruptly after a German court in Düsseldorf ruled in favour of Apple and ordered Samsung to halt sales of its Galaxy Tab 7.7.

Each year, manufacturers from all over the world flock to the IFA trade show to display their latest products and attract European consumers.

The ban comes as the latest in a line of setbacks for the South Korean technology manufacturer.

Samsung and Apple have been locked in a bitter global patents dispute for months that has already forced Samsung to delay sales of its tablet in Australia twice.

The argument came to blows in April, as Apple filed suit against Samsung for copying the design of its popular iPhone and iPad.

Initially, Samsung responded to the lawsuit saying it was prepared to take "appropriate legal measures to protect our intellectual property."

Samsung then counter-sued Apple, claiming Cupertino infringed on Samsung's wireless patents.

The ruling in August initially placed a temporary sales ban on an earlier model Galaxy Tab 10.1 in 26 European Union countries, but was scaled back on jurisdictional grounds to only Germany.

According to The New York Times, Strategy Analytics estimated the ruling in Düsseldorf could have thwarted the sale of half a million units this year, a hefty blow for Samsung.

Samsung remained largely silent about the Düsseldorf ruling, but according to The
Guardian, Samsung spokesman James Chung said: "The product is not on sale yet but we've decided to respect the court order."

As the patents dispute rages on the US, Australia, Europe and South Korea, Apple continues to prove its a force to be reckoned with as Samsung struggles to cope with legal battles around the globe.

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